Huge shipment of counterfeit auto parts stopped
In Philadelphia, US customs intercepted a large shipment of counterfeit car parts and seized fake goods worth about 1.5 million euros (approx. 1.8 million US dollars). The consignment from China included counterfeit hubcaps, hood ornaments, and grille assemblies illegally bearing the Mercedes-Benz logo. According to the authorities, the delivery had been stopped due to concerns about its origin and quality, among other things, before the suspicion of counterfeiting was confirmed.
Leipzig customs confiscates tens of thousands of fake fashion labels
Customs agents at Leipzig airport seized over 36,000 counterfeit labels and stickers carrying the Nike brand. The labels, which were flown in from Hong Kong by air freight, have been confirmed as counterfeit by the rights holder. Besides the fake brand labels, the consignment also included over 50 counterfeit handbags and mobile phone covers of various brands, which were confiscated too.
Europol strike against counterfeiting online
As part of the global operation In Our Sites (IOS), Europol has now taken action against counterfeiting and piracy on the Internet: Investigators of the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3) seized more than 33,600 domains suspected of distributing counterfeit pharmaceuticals, pirated copies, fake electronic products, and other illegal goods – a significant increase compared to the about 20,500 domains seized last year. In addition, officials arrested twelve suspects and froze various online payment platforms and accounts with over one million euros. Operation IOS is a cooperation between IPC3, the US National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, and local authorities from 26 countries*, which is also supported by Interpol.
Fashion counterfeiter ring blown in Italy
With nationwide raids, Italian authorities have now disrupted a fashion counterfeiting ring, seizing around 10,000 counterfeit goods as well as various materials for manufacturing fakes. The crime ring is suspected of trading in fakes of well-known brands online. The fraudsters apparently imported counterfeit goods from China, Turkey, and Vietnam; however, they are also said to have produced fakes on a large scale themselves. According to media reports, up to 160 counterfeits per day were produced in several illegal workshops. The fraud scheme was identified when officials in Trento became aware of one of the fraudster’s suspicious online profiles in April. A total of 36 people were indicted in connection with the counterfeiting ring; five suspects are currently in custody.
